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Hey David,
Just thought I’d contribute to your theme. For this age, I don’t teach passing at all. Game wise, we play 3v3 or 4v4, no keepers. In games, tactically I tell the team to get behind their teammate with the ball. Fundamentally, they are giving proper support and safety for the teammate to dribble. Primarily, it gets them out of the way of their teammate so they’re not an obstacle or potentially stealing the ball from said teammate. Training sessions are usually once a week, for about 45-60 minutes. Keep the activites the same week to week as kids like a routine, but I have quite a few activities so we’re not stuck on one for too long. Lots of breaks.
Form dribbling – consists of chop dribbles with the laces, single footed zig zags, monster walks, pendulums and toe taps. Simple is the key.
Box dribbling (10×10 yards) – kids all with ball all around the perimeter of the square. The objective is to dribble across the square and back, usually 3 times. Its a race to see who can finish first. Activity teaches the kids automatically to get their head up to avoid collissions. Use this activity to introduce different turns (inside cut, outside cut, cryuff cut, hook turn, step over turn). Usually youngest I stick with the inside and outside cuts.
Gate dribbling – random gates, run the activity with 3 players at a time. The intent is for speed so concepts of getting the ball off the foot more are taught to give up some control for speed, but to read the layout (look for the next gate, look for openings, look for lanes that go through several gates, etc). Players count how many gates they can get through in 20 seconds. Then they try to beat their prior record. The coaching tips I give I tell them I’m giving them cheat codes for a video game.
1v1 two goal game – defender serves to attacker, there is a goal (gate) on either side of the field (lateral versus on the ends). The player can dribble through either gate to score. The key is we’re not shooting, we’re instilling quick changes of directions, possibly fakes to throw off the defender. If the defender wins the ball, they can dribble through a gate which can be from either side of the gate.
1v1 line soccer – defender serves to attacker, the objective is to dribble to the opposite end line and stop the ball on the line with foot on top of the ball. This can be used to teach shielding either during a bad first touch to gain control of the ball or when attempting to stop on an end line to score. Its directional so moves can start to be introduced as well. it also teaches basic defensive principals which I don’t cover until at the upper part of this age group.
3v3 soccer to goals – basically a short scimmage implementing the game tactics notes above.
ghostbusters game (20×20) grid – everyone with a ball dribbling inside grid, one player outside of grid without the ball that is the ghostbuster. On go, the player without the ball has 30 seconds to attempt to tag each player with the ball which freezes them. Player that is frozen hoists their ball above their head. They can be unfrozen by teammate who passes a ball between their legs. Just a fun game to end a session with.
high or far – Just a thing my dad used to do when I was a kid. Kids come up to you as the coach and tell you either high or far. Then you as a coach punt the ball based on what they say and the player runs out and shags the ball, dribbling all the way back. If they do it quick enough you might do it again for them. The kids like it because they are in awe at how high or far you can kick the ball. The thing I learned about it is it wears out the kids substantially for their ride back home and they unknowingly get some cardio which isn’t necessary but….
The goal is to develop top notch ball handlers that can keep the ball (individual possession) under pressure. Usually the players are facing 1v1’s, 1v’2 and 1v3’s. Sometimes more if the teammates try to take the ball away. Ultimately, with every club I’ve coached for and every parent I’ve given this advice to who are recruited as a first time soccer coach, have had very good success in developing skilled players using these activities. One thing though is to make sure to coach the parents so they’re not yelling at their kid to boot the ball. Tell them your intention, goals and get them to yell support of what it is you’re attempting to achieve.
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